Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

Synopsis:Return to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s « phenomenal » (Urban Fantasy Investigations) world of the Others — where supernatural entities and humans struggle to co-exist, and one woman has begun to change all the rules…

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murder of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard — Lakeside’s shape-shifting leader — wonders if their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now, the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

Review: It took me a long time before reading the first novel, but I totally fell for it. It’s my big revelation for now and I think few books are able to reach the height of this series, which is just sublime! But you know the advantage of having read Written in Red that late? No? Well, I did not have to wait so long to read Murder of Crows. A big big advantage! I must admit that at the end of the first volume, I wondered how the author would succeed to write a second book as good. I can now answer and tell you that this new volume is as good as the first one and I was completely taken away from the beginning to the end of the story, to the point of not being able to put the book down until I had finished it.

Meg tries to return to a normal life as much as she can, but it is often quite difficult or even almost impossible. So when she thinks that she’ll finally have some time to try to understand what is happening around her, some new events occur to upset her existence. First of all, there is Simon … It’s really interesting to see them together, trying to understand what is happening between them. There is a lot of attraction between the two characters, and at the same time they do not really know what to do or how to act, because they have never been in such a situation. Still, I think they are the only ones who don’t see what is happening and the characters, Other or Humans, have a lot of questions regarding that. But there are also many other things… The first novel introduces us to this new drug that seems to affect both species indiscriminately but while it seems that someone use it to kill Crows, the Others must take steps. We know at the end of the first novel about the reason behind this poison but it is true that I was really curious to see the consequences of this revelation.

And while the war is looming at the horizon, accentuating the differences between these two worlds, the only ones who seem to go against it are Simon and Meg, as well as people who are there to support them. But it will be far from easy to do that and even if some problems are settled, others still appear, breaking their only hope of peace. This novel also allow us to discover new species that we did not know previously and at the same time many new characters that may well leave a great impression on the life of our heroine. In addition, we also have some new information about the cassandra sangue (their origin, lifestyle…) which was actually really interesting. We will also have the opportunity to see several times Meg’s friend, Jean, as we hear a lot about her and it is true that our heart is broken for her, especially after everything she has done for her. I was also really sad for Meg. While she discovers the world in the first volume, she is now trying to adapt. She is a strong young woman, who doesn’t hesitate to act when needed and at the same time she is so innocent. While everyone is watching her so she doesn’t have cut her and so access to her prophecies, it seems that it’s completely impossible for her to abandon this part of her life, an integral part of her existence. I think now that the characters have realized that they can’t change her, she is like that, but she will still have to find a way to not endanger her life.

I was quite surprised to see that the author had not dragged the big plot of the story along the books and I think that’s also what makes its charm to the series, but of course, a new threat looms more and more and I’m curious to see what will happen now.

This novel was a wonderful surprise again, and I am once again completely impressed by the author’s ideas whatsoever for her world, her characters or even her story. Everything is filled with originality and I took a great pleasure with this new novel. The pace is amazing, no dead time and as I said, once you get into the first chapter, you will see that you will be completely enthralled, as I was. This series is a gem and I am now really looking forward to read more. But how am I going to wait that long now? I feel that it will be very difficult! In any case, one thing is sure, if you have not yet had the opportunity to discover the story, I can only tell you force you to read it, because it’s really worth it. You will be amazed!

Oh Melliane. Five stars. I’m drooling. I really need to read my copies of Written in Red and this one. And I totally agree that we are sort of at a slight advantage for waiting until both books are out before reading.

This world sounds so well-realized, and I can’t wait to meet the characters as well.

So excited for this series, glad you didn’t have to wait for book 2 🙂 bet it makes it harder for the next one though! This book looks even more good everytime I read a review. I feel slow at picking it up.